Ernest Alan Fitch (10 March 1915 – 7 August 1985) was a British Labour Party politician. Fitch was educated at Kingswood School, Bath (1927–1932), and was a mineworker. He represented mineworkers on the executive committee of the Lancashire and Cheshire Regional Council of Labour. He was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Wigan in a by-election in 1958, following the death of sitting Labour MP Ronald Williams. He was re-elected at the next seven general elections, before stepping down at the 1983 general election, when the seat was held for Labour by Roger Stott. Fitch was one of only two MPs for Wigan in the 20th century to stand down (retire) rather than die in office. His successor Roger Stott reverted to the trend and died in office in 1999. Fitch was a government Assistant Whip from 1964 to 1966, a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury from 1966 to 1969 and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household from 1969 to 1970, and was a member of the nationalised industries select committee. Fitch was also a Member of the European Parliament. References Times Guide to the House of Commons 1979 External links 1915 births 1985 deaths English miners Labour Party (UK) MEPs Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies MEPs for the United Kingdom 1973–1979 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Wigan Ministers in the Wilson governments, 1964–1970 National Union of Mineworkers-sponsored MPs People educated at Kingswood School, Bath UK MPs 1955–1959 UK MPs 1959–1964 UK MPs 1964–1966 UK MPs 1966–1970 UK MPs 1970–1974 UK MPs 1974 UK MPs 1974–1979 UK MPs 1979–1983